Heterodimeric four helix bundle cytokines

ABSTRACT

Heterodimeric proteins comprising two helical bundle cytokines are disclosed. One of the polypeptides comprises zsig81 and a second polypeptide which comprises either p19 (aka IL-12A) or p35 (aka L-12A). The proteins may be produced as fusion proteins or expressed as a single chain. The heterdimeric protein comprising zsig81 and p19 is designated zcyto33f2 and the heterodimeric protein comprising zsig81 and p35 is designated zcyto35f2. Zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 proteins are associated with epithelial cell types, including lung and gut epithelium, and may play a role in physiological conditions such as inflammation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/700,550, filed Jul. 19, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/699,938, filed Jul. 15, 2005, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cytokines are polypeptide hormones that are produced by a cell and affect cell growth or metabolism in either autocrine, paracrine or endocrine fashion. Cytokines are physicochemically diverse, ranging in size from 5 kDa (TGF-α) to 140 kDa (Mullerian-inhibiting substance). Structurally, cytokines include a group distinguished by their four-helix bundle conformation. They include single polypeptide chains, as well as disulfide-linked homodimers and heterodimers.

The IL-12 family of cytokines is involved in immunomodulatory activities. Proteins in the L-12 family are heterodimers and include IL-12, IL-23 and IL-27. IL-12 is a heterodimer comprising a p35 and p40 subunit (Kobayashi et al., J. Exp. Med. 170:827-845, 1989), IL-23 comprises p19 and p40 subunits (Oppman et al., Immunity 13:715-725, 2000), and IL-27 heterodimer comprises subunits p28 and Epstein Barr virus-induced protein 3 (EBI3; Pflanz et al., Immunity 16:779-790, 2002).

In view of the proven clinical utility of cytokines, there is a need in the art for additional such molecules for use as both therapeutic agents and research tools and reagents. Cytokines are used in the laboratory to study developmental processes, and in laboratory and industry settings as components of cell culture media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for fusion proteins comprising at least two polypeptides wherein a first polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4.

In another aspect, the present invention provides for fusion proteins comprising at least two polypeptides wherein a first polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4.

The present invention also provides for fusion proteins comprising at least two polypeptides wherein a first polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4.

In certain embodiments, the fusion proteins will also comprise a peptide linker as shown in SEQ ID NO: 33 or 38 between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide.

In another aspect, the present invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 361 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 50, an isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 346 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 52, an isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 425 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 56, or an isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 410 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 58.

The present invention provides polynucleotides molecules encoding the polypeptides, including polypeptides comprising fusion proteins disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements, a transcription promoter, a DNA segment encoding the polypeptides, including fusion proteins, and a transcription terminator disclosed herein. Furthermore, the present invention provides cultured cells into the expression vectors have been introduced.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating an inflammatory disease comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; and (c) a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the inflammatory disease is asthma or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of treating an autoimmune disease comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; and (c) a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of muscular sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and graft versus host disease (GVHD).

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of stimulating or expanding T regulatory cells in a subject with an autoimmune or inflammatory disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; and (c) a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4. In one embodiment, the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of muscular sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and graft versus host disease (GVHD). In another embodiment, the inflammatory disease is asthma or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Prior to setting forth the invention in detail, it may be helpful to the understanding thereof to define the following terms:

The term “affinity tag” is used herein to denote a polypeptide segment that can be attached to a second polypeptide to provide for purification or detection of the second polypeptide or provide sites for attachment of the second polypeptide to a substrate. In principal, any peptide or protein for which an antibody or other specific binding agent is available can be used as an affinity tag. Affinity tags include a poly-histidine tract, protein A (Nilsson et al., EMBO J. 4:1075, 1985; Nilsson et al., Methods Enzymol. 198:3, 1991), glutathione S transferase (Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31, 1988), Glu-Glu affinity tag (Grussenmeyer et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:7952-4, 1985), substance P, Flag™ peptide (Hopp et al., Biotechnology 6:1204-10, 1988), streptavidin binding peptide, or other antigenic epitope or binding domain. See, in general, Ford et al., Protein Expression and Purification 2: 95-107, 1991. DNAs encoding affinity tags are available from commercial suppliers (e.g., Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.).

The term “allelic variant” is used herein to denote any of two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result in phenotypic polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid sequence. The term allelic variant is also used herein to denote a protein encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

The terms “amino-terminal” and “carboxyl-terminal” are used herein to denote positions within polypeptides. Where the context allows, these terms are used with reference to a particular sequence or portion of a polypeptide to denote proximity or relative position. For example, a certain sequence positioned carboxyl-terminal to a reference sequence within a polypeptide is located proximal to the carboxyl terminus of the reference sequence, but is not necessarily at the carboxyl terminus of the complete polypeptide.

The term “cancer” or “cancer cell” is used herein to denote a tissue or cell found in a neoplasm which possesses characteristics which differentiate it from normal tissue or tissue cells. Among such characteristics include but are not limited to: degree of anaplasia, irregularity in shape, indistinctness of cell outline, nuclear size, changes in structure of nucleus or cytoplasm, other phenotypic changes, presence of cellular proteins indicative of a cancerous or pre-cancerous state, increased number of mitoses, and ability to metastasize. Words pertaining to “cancer” include carcinoma, sarcoma, tumor, epithelioma, leukemia, lymphoma, polyp, and scirrus, transformation, neoplasm, and the like.

The term “complement/anti-complement pair” denotes non-identical moieties that form a non-covalently associated, stable pair under appropriate conditions. For instance, biotin and avidin (or streptavidin) are prototypical members of a complement/anti-complement pair. Other exemplary complement/anti-complement pairs include receptor/ligand pairs, antibody/antigen (or hapten or epitope) pairs, sense/antisense polynucleotide pairs, and the like. Where subsequent dissociation of the complement/anti-complement pair is desirable, the complement/anti-complement pair preferably has a binding affinity of <10⁹ M⁻¹.

The term “complements of a polynucleotide molecule” denotes a polynucleotide molecule having a complementary base sequence and reverse orientation as compared to a reference sequence. (21] The term “degenerate nucleotide sequence” denotes a sequence of nucleotides that includes one or more degenerate codons (as compared to a reference polynucleotide molecule that encodes a polypeptide). Degenerate codons contain different triplets of nucleotides, but encode the same amino acid residue (i.e., GAU and GAC triplets each encode Asp).

The term “expression vector” is used to denote a DNA molecule, linear or circular, that comprises a segment encoding a polypeptide of interest operably linked to additional segments that provide for its transcription. Such additional segments include promoter and terminator sequences, and may also include one or more origins of replication, one or more selectable markers, an enhancer, a polyadenylation signal, etc. Expression vectors are generally derived from plasmid or viral DNA, or may contain elements of both.

The term “isolated”, when applied to a polynucleotide, denotes that the polynucleotide has been removed from its natural genetic milieu and is thus free of other extraneous or unwanted coding sequences, and is in a form suitable for use within genetically engineered protein production systems. Such isolated molecules are those that are separated from their natural environment and include cDNA and genomic clones. Isolated DNA molecules of the present invention are free of other genes with which they are ordinarily associated, but may include naturally occurring 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions such as promoters and terminators. The identification of associated regions will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Dynan and Tijan, Nature 316:774-78, 1985).

An “isolated” polypeptide or protein is a polypeptide or protein that is found in a condition other than its native environment, such as apart from blood and animal tissue. In a preferred form, the isolated polypeptide is substantially free of other polypeptides, particularly other polypeptides of animal origin. It is preferred to provide the polypeptides in a highly purified form, i.e. greater than 95% pure, more preferably greater than 99% pure. When used in this context, the term “isolated” does not exclude the presence of the same polypeptide in alternative physical forms, such as dimers or alternatively glycosylated or derivatized forms.

The term “level” when referring to immune cells, such as NK cells, T cells, in particular cytotoxic T cells, B cells and the like, an increased level is either increased number of cells or enhanced activity of cell function.

The term “level” when referring to viral infections refers to a change in the level of viral infection and includes, but is not limited to, a change in the level of CTLs or NK cells (as described above), a decrease in viral load, an increase antiviral antibody titer, decrease in serological levels of alanine aminotransferase, or improvement as determined by histological examination of a target tissue or organ. Determination of whether these changes in level are significant differences or changes is well within the skill of one in the art.

The term “neoplastic”, when referring to cells, indicates cells undergoing new and abnormal proliferation, particularly in a tissue where in the proliferation is uncontrolled and progressive, resulting in a neoplasm. The neoplastic cells can be either malignant, i.e. invasive and metastatic, or benign.

The term “operably linked”, when referring to DNA segments, indicates that the segments are arranged so that they function in concert for their intended purposes, e.g., transcription initiates in the promoter and proceeds through the coding segment to the terminator.

A “polynucleotide” is a single- or double-stranded polymer of deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide bases read from the 5′ to the 3′ end. Polynucleotides include RNA and DNA, and may be isolated from natural sources, synthesized in vitro, or prepared from a combination of natural and synthetic molecules. Sizes of polynucleotides are expressed as base pairs (abbreviated “bp”), nucleotides (“nt”), or kilobases (“kb”). Where the context allows, the latter two terms may describe polynucleotides that are single-stranded or double-stranded. When the term is applied to double-stranded molecules it is used to denote overall length and will be understood to be equivalent to the term “base pairs”. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the two strands of a double-stranded polynucleotide may differ slightly in length and that the ends thereof may be staggered as a result of enzymatic cleavage; thus all nucleotides within a double-stranded polynucleotide molecule may not be paired.

A “polypeptide” is a polymer of amino acid residues joined by peptide bonds, whether produced naturally or synthetically. Polypeptides of less than about 10 amino acid residues are commonly referred to as “peptides”.

The term “promoter” is used herein for its art-recognized meaning to denote a portion of a gene containing DNA sequences that provide for the binding of RNA polymerase and initiation of transcription. Promoter sequences are commonly, but not always, found in the 5′ non-coding regions of genes.

A “protein” is a macromolecule comprising one or more polypeptide chains. A protein may also comprise non-peptidic components, such as carbohydrate groups. Carbohydrates and other non-peptidic substituents may be added to a protein by the cell in which the protein-,is produced, and will vary with the type of cell. Proteins are defined herein in terms of their amino acid backbone structures; substituents such as carbohydrate groups are generally not specified, but may be present nonetheless.

The term “receptor” denotes a cell-associated protein that binds to a bioactive molecule (i.e., a ligand) and mediates the effect of the ligand on the cell. Membrane-bound receptors are characterized by a multi-peptide structure comprising an extracellular ligand-binding domain and an intracellular effector domain that is typically involved in signal transduction. Binding of ligand to receptor results in a conformational change in the receptor that causes an interaction between the effector domain and other molecule(s) in the cell. This interaction in turn leads to an alteration in the metabolism of the cell. Metabolic events that are linked to receptor-ligand interactions include gene transcription, phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, increases in cyclic AMP production, mobilization of cellular calcium, mobilization of membrane lipids, cell adhesion, hydrolysis of inositol lipids and hydrolysis of phospholipids. In general, receptors can be membrane bound, cytosolic or nuclear; monomeric (e.g., thyroid stimulating hormone receptor, beta-adrenergic receptor) or multimeric (e.g., PDGF receptor, growth hormone receptor, L-3 receptor, GM-CSF receptor, G-CSF receptor, erythropoietin receptor and L-6 receptor).

The term “secretory signal sequence” denotes a DNA sequence that encodes a polypeptide (a “secretory peptide”) that, as a component of a larger polypeptide, directs the larger polypeptide through a secretory pathway of a cell in which it is synthesized. The larger polypeptide is commonly cleaved to remove the secretory peptide during transit through the secretory pathway.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” is defined as an amount of a zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 composition, or zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 composition in combination with another therapeutical agent, that results in a improvement in a subject having an inflammatory or autoimmune disease. What constitutes an improvement in a disease is well known to clinicians and those skilled in the art and is not limited to the descriptions given herein.

Molecular weights and lengths of polymers determined by imprecise analytical methods (e.g., gel electrophoresis) will be understood to be approximate values. When such a value is expressed as “about” X or “approximately” X, the stated value of X will be understood to be accurate to ±10%.

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention is based in part upon the discovery that a previously identified four helical cytokine, zsig81 can be co-expressed with two separate proteins forming covalently disulfide-linked heterodimeric proteins. Zsig81 protein has been previously described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,576, which is incorporated herein by reference. In one aspect of the present invention, zsig81 is co-expressed with p35 (also designated IL-12A), and the resulting heterodimeric protein has been designated as zcyto35f2. In another aspect, the present invention provides co-expression of zsig81 with p19 (also designated IL-23A), and the resulting heterodimeric protein has been designated zcyto33f2. L-12A and IL-23 are both members of the IL-12 family.

The IL-12 family of cytokines is involved in immunomodulatory activities. Proteins in the IL-12 family are heterodimers and include IL-12, IL-23 and IL-27. IL-12 is a heterodimer comprising a p35 and p40 subunit (Kobayashi et al., J. Exp. Med.170:827-845, 1989), L-23 comprises p19 and p40 subunits (Oppman et al., Immunity 13:715-725, 2000), and IL-27 heterodimer comprises subunits p28 and Epstein Barr virus-induced protein 3 (EBI3; Pflanz et al., Immunity 16:779-790, 2002). The genes encoding the respective cytokines must be expressed in the same cell in order to assemble a biologically active, heterodimeric cytokine (Oppman et al., 2000, ibid., Pflanz et al., Immunity 16:779-790, 2002, Wolf et al., J. of Immunology, 146: 3074, 1991), and for L-12p40, IL-27p28 and EBI-3 expression is restricted to the cells that produce the biologically active heterodimeric cytokines (Pflanz et al., 2002, ibid.; Oppman et al., 2000 ibid.; D'Andrea et al., J. Exp. Med. 176:1387). In contrast, IL12p35 and IL23p19, as well as being expressed in cells that produce biologically active IL-12 or IL-23, are also expressed in cells and tissues that do not express p40, suggesting that another protein pairs with IL12p35 and IL23p19 in these cells and tissues (Maaser et al., Immunology, 112:437-445). Zsig81 is also expressed in tissues that express IL12p35 and IL23p19, but not IL12p40.

Human gut epithelial-derived cell lines CaCo2 (ATCC No. HTB-37) and HT-29 (ATCC No. HTB-38) were stimulated with either IL-1α, TNFα, IFNγ or combination thereof, as shown in the following examples. PCR analyses revealed that p19 RNA is present after stimulation with IL-1α and TNFα, and p35 RNA is present after stimulation with IFNγ. Zsig81 RNA was shown to be constitutively expressed in gut epithelial cells, while p40 RNA was not present under any of the conditions tested. P40 has been shown to be expressed in lymphoid tissue, but not epithelial tissue. These data indicate that zsig81 forms heterodimers with p19 and p35 in epithelial cell types, including lung and gut epithelium, under physiological conditions such as inflammation. These heterodimeric cytokines likely play a role in modulating the immune response in these tissues. Further studies were done using zsig81 knock out mice to investigate the role of zsig81 in modulating inflammation in lung tissue, particularly asthma. The localized expression of zsig81 , IL23p19 and IL12p35, but not EL12p40 suggest a role for zsig81 in mucosal immunity.

zsig81 KO's show susceptibility to both oxazalone induced IBD and Ova induced asthma. Zcyto33 and cyto35 transgenic animals show a decreased number of mature B-cells, which also have impaired function. Furthermore, the spleens of zcyto35 transgenic animals have a large population of CD4+, CD25+ T regulatory cells.

T regulatory cells have been shown to protect against antigen induced immune-response including: Ova induced airway hyper-reactivity (Kabbur P M, et al. Cellular Immunol. 239(1):67-74, 2006), and IBD (Holmen, N., et al. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. 12(6):447-456, 2006, Mudter, J., et al. Current Opinions in Gastroenterology. 19(4): 343-349, 2006). In addition, regulatory T-cells have also been shown to play a role in control of autoimmune diseases such as, muscular sclerosis using a murine model of EAE (Zhang X., et al., Internat. Immunol. 18(4):495-503, 2006), type 1 diabetes (Li, Alice, et al., Vaccine 24(3):5003646, 2006; Bruder, D., et al., Diabetes 54(12):3395-33401, 2005) and rheumatoid arthritis (Cao, D, et al. Scandinavian J. of Immunol. 63(6):444-52, 2006). Finally, induction of regulatory T-cells is protective against the development of GVHD (Karakhanova, S., et al., J. of Immunotherapy 29(3): 336-349, 2006).

From the data generated through the analysis of zsig81 knockout mice and zcyto33 and zcyto35 transgenic mice, these cytokines may be important for dampening the immune system in lung and gut and therefore useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as asthma and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Furthermore, enhancement of T regulatory cells number and function by zcyto35 would be useful for treatment of autoimmune disease and for inhibition of graft versus host disease (GVHD).

In general, a DNA sequence encoding a zsig81 polypeptide is operably linked to other genetic elements required for its expression, generally including a transcription promoter and terminator, within an expression vector. The vector will also commonly contain one or more selectable markers and one or more origins of replication, although those skilled in the art will recognize that within certain systems selectable markers may be provided on separate vectors, and replication of the exogenous DNA may be provided by integration into the host cell genome. Selection of promoters, terminators, selectable markers, vectors and other elements is a matter of routine design within the level of ordinary skill in the art. Many such elements are described in the literature and are available through commercial suppliers. Exemplary expression constructs are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,531,576 and the example section herein.

Zsig81 is co-expressed with either p35 or p19, particularly in mammalian expression systems. Polynucleotide constructs for co-expressing p19 are made, for example, as taught in Opperman et al. (Immunity 13:715-725, 2000). An exemplary method for preparing p35 expression constructs is taught in Koybayaski et al. (J. Exp. Med. 170:827-845, 1989.

Single chain components of the heterodimeric proteins may also be expressed in prokaryotic systems. Tandem, single-chain molecules zcyto33f2 can be expressed as a single-chain fusion protein comprised of the zsig81 (SEQ ID NO: 2) protein fused at the carboxy terminus to a peptide linker (SEQ ID NO: 33) followed by the p19 protein (SEQ ID NO: 4). The opposite orientation may also be expressed, with the p19 protein (SEQ ID NO: 4) fused at the carboxy terminus to a peptide linker (seq I.D. SEQ ID NO: 33) followed by the zsig81 protein (SEQ ID NO: 2). The single-chain fusion protein can be secreted from the cell using the native secretion leader sequence for either zsig81 or p19, or by using a heterologous secretion leader sequence, such as the secretion leader sequence from TPA or HGH. Furthermore, the single-chain fusion protein can be expressed with an affinity tag fused either to the amino terminus or the carboxy terminus.

Zcyto35f2 can be expressed as a single-chain fusion protein comprised of the zsig81 (SEQ ID NO: 2) protein fused at the carboxy terminus to a peptide linker (SEQ ID NO: 33) followed by the p35 protein (SEQ ID NO: 6). The opposite orientation may also be expressed, with the p35 protein (SEQ ID NO: 6) fused at the carboxy terminus to a peptide linker (SEQ ID NO: 33) followed by the zsig81 protein (SEQ ID NO: 2). The fusion protein can be secreted from the cell using the native secretion leader sequence for either zsig81 or p35, or by using a heterologous secretion leader sequence, such as the secretion leader sequence from TPA or HGH. Furthermore, the single chain fusion protein can be expressed with an affinity tag fused either to the amino terminus or the carboxy terminus.

To direct a zsig81 and p19 or p35 polypeptides into the secretory pathway of a host cell, a secretory signal sequence (also known as a leader sequence, prepro sequence or pre sequence) is provided in the expression vector. The secretory signal sequence may the native secretory sequence, i.e. zsig81 , p19 or p35, or may be derived from another secreted protein (e.g., t-PA; see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,655) or synthesized de novo. The secretory signal sequence is operably linked to the zsig81 , p19 or p35 DNA sequence, i.e., the two sequences are joined in the correct reading frame and positioned to direct the newly synthesized polypeptide into the secretory pathway of the host cell. Secretory signal sequences are commonly positioned 5′ to the DNA sequence encoding the polypeptide of interest, although certain signal sequences may be positioned elsewhere in the DNA sequence of interest (see, e.g., Welch et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,743; Holland et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,830).

Cultured mammalian cells are suitable hosts within the present invention. Methods for introducing exogenous DNA into mammalian host cells include calcium phosphate-mediated transfection (Wigler et al., Cell 14:725, 1978; Corsaro and Pearson, Somatic Cell Genetics 7:603, 1981: Graham and Van der Eb, Virology 52:456, 1973), electroporation (Neumann et al., EMBO J. 1:841-5, 1982), DEAE-dextran mediated transfection (Ausubel et al., ibid.), and liposome-mediated transfection (Hawley-Nelson et al., Focus 15:73, 1993; Ciccarone et al., Focus 15:80, 1993, and viral vectors (Miller and Rosman, BioTechniques 7:980-90, 1989; Wang and Finer, Nature Med. 2:714-6, 1996). The production of recombinant polypeptides in cultured mammalian cells is disclosed, for example, by Levinson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,339; Hagen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,950; Palmiter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,821; and Ringold, U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,134. Suitable cultured mammalian cells include the HEK293T (ATCC No. CRL 11268), COS-1 (ATCC No. CRL 1650), COS-7 (ATCC No. CRL 1651), BHK (ATCC No. CRL 1632), BHK 570 (ATCC No. CRL 10314), 293 (ATCC No. CRL 1573; Graham et al., J. Gen. Virol. 36:59-72, 1977) and Chinese hamster ovary (e.g. CHO-K1; ATCC No. CCL 61) cell lines. Additional-suitable cell lines are known in the art and available from public depositories such as the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va. In general, strong transcription promoters are preferred, such as promoters from SV40 or cytomegalovirus. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,288. Other suitable promoters include those from metallothionein genes (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,579,821 and 4,601,978) and the adenovirus major late promoter.

Drug selection is generally used to select for cultured mammalian cells into which foreign DNA has been inserted. Such cells are commonly referred to as “transfectants”. Cells that have been cultured in the presence of the selective agent and are able to pass the gene of interest to their progeny are referred to as “stable transfectants.” A preferred selectable marker is a gene encoding resistance to the antibiotic neomycin. Selection is carried out in the presence of a neomycin-type drug, such as G-418 or the like. Selection systems can also be used to increase the expression level of the gene of interest, a process referred to as “amplification.” Amplification is carried out by culturing transfectants in the presence of a low level of the selective agent and then increasing the amount of selective agent to select for cells that produce high levels of the products of the introduced genes. A preferred amplifiable selectable marker is dihydrofolate reductase, which confers resistance to methotrexate. Other drug resistance genes (e.g. hygromycin resistance, multi-drug resistance, puromycin acetyltransferase) can also be used. Alternative markers that introduce an altered phenotype, such as green fluorescent protein, or cell surface proteins such as CD4, CD8, Class I MHC, placental alkaline phosphatase may be used to sort transfected cells from untransfected cells by such means as FACS sorting or magnetic bead separation technology.

Zsig81 and p19 or p35 can be expressed as single chain molecules in prokaryotic expression systems. The polypeptides are then dimerized to form zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2. A wide variety of suitable recombinant host cells includes, but is not limited to, gram-negative prokaryotic host organisms. Standard techniques for propagating vectors in prokaryotic hosts are well-known to those of skill in the art (see, for example, Ausubel et al. (eds.), Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, 3rd Edition (John Wiley & Sons 1995); Wu et al., Methods in Gene Biotechnology (CRC Press, Inc. 1997)). Fungal cells, including yeast cells, can also be used within the present invention.

Expressed recombinant zsig81 , zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 proteins (including chimeric polypeptides and multimeric proteins) are purified by conventional protein purification methods, typically by a combination of chromatographic techniques. See, in general, Affinity Chromatography: Principles & Methods. Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology, Uppsala, Sweden, 1988; and Scopes, Protein Purification: Principles and Practice, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1994. Proteins comprising a polyhistidine affinity tag (typically about 6 histidine residues) are purified by affinity chromatography on a nickel chelate resin. See, for example, Houchuli et al., Bio/Technol. 6: 1321-1325, 1988. Proteins comprising a glu-glu tag can be purified by immunoaffinity chromatography according to conventional procedures. See, for example, Grussenmeyer et al., ibid. Maltose binding protein fusions are purified on an amylose column according to methods known in the art.

Zsig81 , p19 and p35 polypeptides can also be prepared through chemical synthesis according to methods known in the art, including-exclusive solid phase synthesis, partial solid phase methods, fragment condensation or classical solution synthesis. See, for example, Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85:2149, 1963; Stewart et al., Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (2nd edition), Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford, Ill., 1984; Bayer and Rapp, Chem. Pept. Prot. 3:3, 1986; and Atherton et al., Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis: A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Oxford, 1989.

Using methods known in the art, zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 proteins are prepared as heterodimers and may be glycosylated or non-glycosylated; pegylated or non-pegylated; and may or may not include an initial methionine amino acid residue.

Target cells for use in zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 activity assays include, without limitation, vascular cells (especially endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells), hematopoietic (myeloid, erythroid and lymphoid) cells, liver cells (including hepatocytes, fenestrated endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, and Ito cells), fibroblasts (including human dermal fibroblasts and lung fibroblasts), fetal lung cells, articular synoviocytes, pericytes, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and epithelial cells. Endothelial cells and hematopoietic cells are derived from a common ancestral cell, the hemangioblast (Choi et al., Development 125:725-732, 1998).

Biological activity of zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 proteins are assayed using in vitro or in vivo assays designed to detect cell proliferation, differentiation, migration or adhesion; or changes in cellular metabolism (e.g., production of other growth factors or other macromolecules). Many suitable assays are known in the art, and representative assays are disclosed herein. Assays using cultured cells are most convenient for screening, such as for determining the effects of amino acid substitutions, deletions, or insertions. However, in view of the complexity of developmental processes (e.g., angiogenesis, wound healing, autoimmunity), in vivo assays will generally be employed to confirm and further characterize biological activity. Assays can be conducted using zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 proteins alone or in combination with other growth factors, such as members of the VEGF family or hematopoietic cytokines (e.g., EPO, TPO, G-CSF, stem cell factor). Representative assays are disclosed below.

Activity of zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2 proteins can be measured in vitro using cultured cells or in vivo by administering molecules of the claimed invention to an appropriate animal model. Assays measuring cell proliferation or differentiation are well known in the art. For example, assays measuring proliferation include such assays as chemosensitivity to neutral red dye (Cavanaugh et al., Investigational New Drugs 8:347-354, 1990), incorporation of radiolabelled nucleotides (as disclosed by, e.g., Raines and Ross, Methods Enzymol. 109:749-773, 1985; Wahl et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 8:5016-5025, 1988; and Cook et al., Analytical Biochem. 179:1-7, 1989), incorporation of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the DNA of proliferating cells (Porstmann et al., J. Immunol. Methods 82:169-179, 1985), and use of tetrazolium salts (Mosmann, J. Immunol. Methods 65:55-63, 1983; Alley et al., Cancer Res. 48:589-601, 1988; Marshall et al., Growth Reg. 5:69-84, 1995; and Scudiero et al., Cancer Res. 48:4827-4833, 1988). Differentiation can be assayed using suitable precursor cells that can be induced to differentiate into a more mature phenotype. Assays measuring differentiation include, for example, measuring cell-surface markers associated with stage-specific expression of a tissue, enzymatic activity, functional activity or morphological changes (Watt, FASEB, 5:281-284, 1991; Francis, Differentiation 57:63-75, 1994; Raes, Adv. Anim. Cell Biol. Technol. Bioprocesses, 161-171, 1989).

Zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 activity may also be detected using assays designed to measure Zcyto33f2- or zcyto35f2-induced production of one or more additional growth factors or other macromolecules. Preferred such assays include those for determining the presence of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF□), interleukin-6 (IL-6), VEGF, acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), angiogenin, and other macromolecules produced by the liver. Suitable assays include mitogenesis assays using target cells responsive to the macromolecule of interest, receptor-binding assays, competition binding assays, immunological assays (e.g., ELISA), and other formats known in the art. Metalloprotease secretion is measured from treated primary human dermal fibroblasts, synoviocytes and chondrocytes. The relative levels of collagenase, gelatinase and stromalysin produced in response to culturing in the presence of a Zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 protein is measured using zymogram gels (Loita and Stetler-Stevenson, Cancer Biology 1:96-106, 1990). Procollagen/collagen synthesis by dermal fibroblasts and chondrocytes in response to a test protein is measured using 3H-proline incorporation into nascent secreted collagen. ³H-labeled collagen is visualized by SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography (Unemori and Amento, J. Biol. Chem. 265: 10681-10685, 1990). Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) secretion from dermal fibroblasts and chondrocytes is measured using a 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue dye binding assay (Farndale et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 883:173-177, 1986). Collagen and GAG assays are also carried out in the presence of IL-1α or TGF-α to examine the ability of zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 protein to modify the established responses to these cytokines.

Monocyte activation assays are carried out (1) to look for the ability of zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 proteins to further stimulate monocyte activation, and (2) to examine the ability of zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 proteins to modulate attachment-induced or endotoxin-induced monocyte activation (Fuhlbrigge et al., J. Immunol. 138: 3799-3802, 1987). IL-1α and TNFα levels produced in response to activation are measured by ELISA (Biosource, Inc. Camarillo, Calif.). Monocyte/macrophage cells, by virtue of CD14 (LPS receptor), are exquisitely sensitive to endotoxin, and proteins with moderate levels of endotoxin-like activity will activate these cells.

Hematopoietic activity of zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 proteins can be assayed on various hematopoietic cells in culture. Preferred assays include primary bone marrow colony assays and later stage lineage-restricted colony assays, which are known in the art (e.g., Holly et al., WIPO Publication WO 95/21920). Marrow cells plated on a suitable semi-solid medium (e.g., 50% methylcellulose containing 15% fetal bovine serum, 10% bovine serum albumin, and 0.6% PSN antibiotic mix) are incubated in the presence of test polypeptide, then examined microscopically for colony formation. Known hematopoietic factors are used as controls. Mitogenic activity of zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 polypeptides on hematopoietic cell lines can be measured as disclosed above.

Cell migration is assayed essentially as disclosed by Kahler et al. (Arteriosclerosis. Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 17:932-939, 1997). A protein is considered to be chemotactic if it induces migration of cells from an area of low protein concentration to an area of high protein concentration. A typical assay is performed using modified Boyden chambers with a polystryrene membrane separating the two chambers (Transwell; Coming Costar Corp.). The test sample, diluted in medium containing 1% BSA, is added to the lower chamber of a 24-well plate containing Transwells. Cells are then placed on the Transwell insert that has been pretreated with 0.2% gelatin. Cell migration is measured after 4 hours of incubation at 37° C. Non-migrating cells are wiped off the top of the Transwell membrane, and cells attached to the lower face of the membrane are fixed and stained with 0.1% crystal violet. Stained cells are then extracted with 10% acetic acid and absorbance is measured at 600 nm. Migration is then calculated from a standard calibration curve. Cell migration can also be measured using the matrigel method of Grant et al. (“Angiogenesis as a component of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions” in Goldberg and Rosen, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interaction in Cancer, Birkhäuser Verlag, 1995, 235-248; Baatout, Anticancer Research 17:451-456, 1997).

Cell adhesion activity is assayed essentially as disclosed by LaFleur et al. (J. Biol. Chem. 272:32798-32803, 1997). Briefly, microtiter plates are coated with the test protein, non-specific sites are blocked with BSA, and cells (such as smooth muscle cells, leukocytes, or endothelial cells) are plated at a density of approximately 10⁴-10⁵ cells/well. The wells are incubated at 37° C. (typically for about 60 minutes), then non-adherent cells are removed by gentle washing. Adhered cells are quantitated by conventional methods (e.g., by staining with crystal violet, lysing the cells, and determining the optical density of the lysate). Control wells are coated with a known adhesive protein, such as fibronectin or vitronectin.

Transgenic mice, engineered to express a zsig81 gene, zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 single chain sequence and mice that exhibit a complete absence of zsig81 gene function, referred to as “knockout mice” (Snouwaert et al., Science 257:1083, 1992), can also be generated (Lowell et al., Nature 366:740-742, 1993). These mice can be employed to study the zsig81 gene and the protein encoded thereby in an in vivo system. Transgenic mice are particularly useful for investigating the role of zsig81 proteins in early development in that they allow the identification of developmental abnormalities or blocks resulting from the over- or underexpression of a specific factor. See also, Maisonpierre et al., Science 277:55-60, 1997 and Hanahan, Science 277:48-50, 1997. Preferred promoters for transgenic expression include promoters from metallothionein and albumin genes.

Another approach uses a hydrodynamic push for in vivo transient expression. Proteins can also be expressed in vivo by systemic delivery a DNA plasmid encoding the protein of choice (Liu et al, Gene Therapy, 6:1258-66, 1999; Wang G et al., Cancer Research, 63:9016-22, 2003).

The DNA plasmid is delivered intravenously (i.v.) in blood-compatible buffer, usually saline. In mice, the optimal volume is approximately 0.6-0.9 times the blood volume (typically 1.5-2.0 mL) and is given by injection through the tail vein. When delivered i.v. in the tail vein in mice, the quasi-totality (>90%) of the circulating protein is produced by plasmid that is expressed in the liver, while smaller quantities are produced by plasmid in the heart, kidney, lungs and the spleen (Liu et al. ibid. 1999). It is conceivable that manipulating the promoter and enhancer regions of the plasmid DNA one can influence the strength and duration of protein expression.

Similarly, direct measurement of zsig81 polypeptide, or its loss of expression in a tissue can be determined in a tissue or cells as they undergo tumor progression. Increases in invasiveness and motility of cells, or the gain or loss of expression of zsig81 in a pre-cancerous or cancerous condition, in comparison to normal tissue, can serve as a diagnostic for transformation, invasion and metastasis in tumor progression. As such, knowledge of a tumor's stage of progression or metastasis will aid the physician in choosing the most proper therapy, or aggressiveness of treatment, for a given individual cancer patient. Methods of measuring gain and loss of expression (of either mRNA or protein) are well known in the art and described herein and can be applied to zsig81 expression. For example, appearance or disappearance of polypeptides that regulate cell motility can be used to aid diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer (Banyard, J. and Zetter, B. R., Cancer and Metast. Rev. 17:449458, 1999). As an effector of cell motility, or as a liver-specific marker, zsig81 gain or loss of expression may serve as a diagnostic for liver, neuroblastoma, endothelial, brain, and other cancers.

Moreover, the activity and effect of zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 on tumor progression and metastasis can be measured in vivo. Several syngeneic mouse models have been developed to study the influence of polypeptides, compounds or other treatments on tumor progression. In these models, tumor cells passaged in culture are implanted into mice of the same strain as the tumor donor. The cells will develop into tumors having similar characteristics in the recipient mice, and metastasis will also occur in some of the models. Appropriate tumor models for our studies include the Lewis lung carcinoma (ATCC No. CRL-1642) and B16 melanoma (ATCC No. CRL-6323), amongst others. These are both commonly used tumor lines, syngeneic to the C57BL6 mouse, that are readily cultured and manipulated in vitro. Tumors resulting from implantation of either of these cell lines are capable of metastasis to the lung in C57BL6 mice. The Lewis lung carcinoma model has recently been used in mice to identify an inhibitor of angiogenesis (O'Reilly M S, et al. Cell 79: 315-328,1994). For general reference see, O'Reilly M S, et al. Cell 79:315-328, 1994; and Rusciano D, et al. Murine Models of Liver Metastasis. Invasion Metastasis 14:349-361, 1995.

Zsig81 activity is expected to have a variety of therapeutic applications, particularly in tissues where p19 or p35 are expressed, such as mucosal epithelium. These therapeutic applications include treatment of diseases which require immune regulation, including autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosis, IBD, and diabetes, as well as asthma and lung hyperresponsiveness.

Zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 heteromultimeric proteins may be used either alone or in combination with other cytokines such as IL-3, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL4, M-CSF, IL-12, stem cell factor, IFN-α or FN-γ to modulate immune responses.

Administration of a zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 multimeric proteins to a subject can be topical, inhalant, intravenous, intraarterial, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intrapleural, intrathecal, by perfusion through a regional catheter, or by direct intralesional injection. When administering therapeutic proteins by injection, the administration may be by continuous infusion or by single or multiple boluses.

Additional routes of administration include oral, mucosal-membrane, pulmonary, and transcutaneous. Oral delivery is suitable for polyester microspheres, zein microspheres, proteinoid microspheres, polycyanoacrylate microspheres, and lipid-based systems (see, for example, DiBase and Morrel, “Oral Delivery of Microencapsulated Proteins,” in Protein Delivery: Physical Systems, Sanders and Hendren (eds.), pages 255-288 (Plenum Press 1997)). In general, pharmaceutical formulations will include a zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 polypeptide in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, such as saline, buffered saline, 5% dextrose in water, or the like. Other suitable vehicles are well-known to those in the art. A formulation is said to be a “pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle” if its administration can be tolerated by a recipient patient. Formulations may further include one or more excipients, preservatives, solubilizers, buffering agents, albumin to prevent protein loss on vial surfaces, etc. Methods of formulation are well known in the art and are disclosed, for example, in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, Gennaro, ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa., 19th ed., 1995. Zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 will preferably be used in a concentration of about 10 to 100 μg/ml of total volume, although concentrations in the range of 1 ng/ml to 1000 μg/ml may be used. Determination of dose is within the level of ordinary skill in the art. Dosing is daily or intermittently over the period of treatment. Intravenous administration will be by bolus injection or infusion over a typical period of one to several hours. Sustained release formulations can also be employed. In general, a “therapeutically effective amount” of zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 multimeric proteins is an amount sufficient to produce a clinically significant change in the treated condition, such as a clinically significant change in hematopoietic or immune function, a significant reduction in morbidity, or a significantly increased histological score.

A pharmaceutical formulation comprising zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 multimeric proteins can be furnished in liquid form, in an aerosol, or in solid form. Liquid forms, are illustrated by injectable solutions′ aerosols, droplets, topological solutions and oral suspensions. Exemplary solid forms include capsules, tablets, and controlled-release forms. The latter form is illustrated by miniosmotic pumps and implants (Bremer et al., Pharm. Biotechnol. 10:239 (1997); Ranade, “Implants in Drug Delivery,” in Drug Delivery Systems, Ranade and Hollinger (eds.), pages 95-123 (CRC Press 1995); Bremer et al., “Protein Delivery with Infusion Pumps,” in Protein Delivery: Physical Systems, Sanders and Hendren (eds.), pages 239-254 (Plenum Press 1997); Yewey et al., “Delivery of Proteins from a Controlled Release Injectable Implant,” in Protein Delivery: Physical Systems, Sanders and Hendren (eds.), pages 93-117 (Plenum Press 1997)). Other solid forms include creams, pastes, other topological applications, and the like.

Polynucleotides encoding zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 multimeric proteins are useful within gene therapy applications where it is desired to increase or inhibit zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 multimeric protein activity. If a mammal has a mutated or absent zsig81 gene, a zsig81 gene can be introduced into the cells of the mammal.

Zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 multimeric proteins can be directly or indirectly conjugated to drugs, toxins, radionuclides and the like, and these conjugates used for in vivo diagnostic or therapeutic applications. For instance, polypeptides or antibodies of the present invention may be used to identify or treat tissues or organs that express a corresponding anti-complementary molecule (receptor or antigen, respectively, for instance). More specifically, zcyto33f2 or zcyto35f2 multimeric proteins, or bioactive fragments or portions thereof, can be coupled to detectable or cytotoxic molecules and delivered to a mammal having cells, tissues, or organs that express the anti-complementary molecule.

Suitable detectable molecules can be directly or indirectly attached to the polypeptide or antibody, and include radionuclides, enzymes, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, fluorescent markers, chemiluminescent markers, magnetic particles, and the like. Suitable cytotoxic molecules can be directly or indirectly attached to the polypeptide or antibody, and include bacterial or plant toxins (for instance, diphtheria toxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin, ricin, abrin, saporin, and the like), as well as therapeutic radionuclides, such as iodine-131, rhenium-188 or yttrium-90. These can be either directly attached to the polypeptide or antibody, or indirectly attached according to known methods, such as through a chelating moiety. Polypeptides or antibodies can also be conjugated to cytotoxic drugs, such as adriamycin. For indirect attachment of a detectable or cytotoxic molecule, the detectable or cytotoxic molecule may be conjugated with a member of a complementary/anticomplementary pair, where the other member is bound to the polypeptide or antibody portion. For these purposes, biotin/streptavidin is an exemplary complementary/anticomplementary pair.

The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Expression Constructs

A. zsig81 Constructs

Constructs for the expression of zsig81 (SEQ ID NO: 2) were made in either pzMP41zeo or pZMP21. The pZMP41zeo is derived from plasmid pZMP40, where the zeocin resistance gene has been substituted for the DHFR gene and the CD8 gene was replaced with CD4. pZMP40 was cut with BgIII, was used in a three-way recombination with both of the PCR insert fragments. Plasmid pZMP40 is a mammalian expression vector containing an expression cassette having the MPSV promoter, and multiple restriction sites for insertion of coding sequences; an E. coli origin of replication; a mammalian selectable marker expression unit comprising an SV40 promoter, enhancer and origin of replication, a DHFR gene, and the SV40 terminator; and URA3 and CEN-ARS sequences required for selection and replication in S. cerevisiae. Plasmid pZMP40 was constructed from pZMP21 (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and designated No. PTA-5266) by addition of several restriction enzyme sites to the polylinker.

Furthermore, constructs for the expression zsig81 with either a C-terminal FLAG tag (SEQ ID NO:63) or a C-terminal 6× His tag (SEQ ID NO:64) were prepared. Using the cDNA encoding zsig81 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for zsig81-Cflag or C-His were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50071 (SEQ ID NO: 7) and zc50076 (SEQ ID NO: 8), or zc50071 (SEQ ID NO:7) and zc50156 (SEQ ID NO:9) as primers. Following agarose gel purification the cDNAs were inserted into EcoRI/BgIII cut pzmp41zeo or pZMP21 by homologous recombination in yeast. Plasmid DNA was prepared in E. coli, DH10B (InVitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) and purified using QIAFWLTER Maxi-prep kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) as described by manufacturer. All constructs were sequence verified.

B. Tandem Constructs

1. zcyto33f2NHis

Constructs for the expression of zcyto33f2 (which is zsig81 and p19 expressed as a single chain construct) were prepared in the expression vector pZMP21. Plasmid pZMP²¹ is a mammalian expression vector containing an expression cassette having the MPSV promoter, and multiple restriction sites for insertion of coding sequences; a TPA leader sequence, an E. coli origin of replication; a mammalian selectable marker expression unit comprising an SV40 promoter, enhancer and origin of replication, a DHFR gene, and the SV40 terminator; and URA3 and CEN-ARS sequences required for selection and replication in S. cerevisiae, (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and designated No. PTA-5266).

Furthermore, constructs for the expression of zcyto33f2 with a N-terminal 6× His tag (SEQ ID NO: 10) were prepared. Using the cDNA encoding zsig81 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for zsig81 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50131 (SEQ ID NO: 28) and zc50080 (SEQ ID NO: 29) as primers. These cDNAs encode zsig81 , beginning at P35 (shown as residue 18 of SEQ ID NO: 2), a 5′ extension encoding an amino-terminal 6× his tag, and a 3′ extension encoding a carboxy-terminal linker (SEQ ID NO: 32) Using cDNA encoding p19 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for p19 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50085 (SEQ ID NO: 30) and zc50082 (SEQ ID NO: 31) as primers. These cDNAs encode p19, beginning at R20 (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4), a 5′ extension complementary to the 3′ extension on the zsig81 cDNAs, encoding an amino-terminal linker. Following agarose gel purification the cDNAs were inserted into BgIII cut pzmp21 by three-way yeast recombination in vivo. Yeast DNA was isolated and transformed into E. coli for amplification. Plasmid DNA was prepared in E. coli, DH10B and purified using QIAFILTER Maxi-prep kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif. ) as described by manufacturer. All constructs were sequence verified.

2. zcyto33f2CHis

Constructs for the expression of zcyto33f2 were prepared in the expression vector pZMP21. Plasmid pZMP21 is a mammalian expression vector containing an expression cassette having the MPSV promoter, and multiple restriction sites for insertion of coding sequences; an E. coli origin of replication; a mammalian selectable marker expression unit comprising an SV40 promoter, enhancer and origin of replication, a DHFR gene, and the SV40 terminator; and URA3 and CEN-ARS sequences required for selection and replication in S. cerevisiae, (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and designated No. PTA-5266).

Furthermore, constructs for the expression of zcyto33f2 with a C-terminal 6× His tag (SEQ ID NO:64) were prepared. Using the cDNA encoding zsig81 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for zsig81 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50765 (SEQ ID NO: 34) and zc50768 (SEQ ID NO: 36), or zc50766 (SEQ ID NO: 35) and zc50768 (SEQ ID NO: 36) as primers. These cDNAs encode zsig81, beginning at W23 (shown as residue 6 in SEQ ID NO: 2) or S38 (shown as residue 21 in SEQ ID NO: 2), a 5′ extension encoding an amino-terminal linker (SEQ ID NO: 37), and a 3′ extension encoding a carboxy-terminal histidine tag. Using cDNA encoding p19 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for p19 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50767 (SEQ ID NO: 39) and zc50769 (SEQ ID NO: 40) as primers. These cDNAs encode p19, beginning at M1 (as shown in SEQ ID NO: 4), a 3′ extension complementary to the 5′ extension on the zsig81 cDNAs, encoding a carboxy-terminal linker. Following agarose gel purification the cDNAs were inserted into EcoRI/BgIII cut pzmp21 by three-way yeast recombination in vivo. Yeast DNA was isolated and transformed into E. coli for amplification. Plasmid DNA was prepared in E. coli, DH10B and purified using QIAFILTER Maxi-prep kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) as described by manufacturer. All constructs were sequence verified.

3. Murine zcyto33f2CHis

Constructs for the expression of murine zcyto33f2 were prepared in the expression vector pZMP21. Plasmid pZMP21 is a mammalian expression vector containing an expression cassette having the MPSV promoter, and multiple restriction sites for insertion of coding sequences; a TPA leader sequence, an E. coli origin of replication; a mammalian selectable marker expression unit comprising an SV40 promoter, enhancer and origin of replication, a DHFR gene, and the SV40 terminator; and URA3 and CEN-ARS sequences required for selection and replication in S. cerevisiae, (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and designated No. PTA-5266).

Furthermore, constructs for the expression of murine zcyto33f2 a C-terminal 6× His tag (SEQ ID NO:64) were prepared. Using the cDNA encoding zsig81 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for murine zsig81 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50660 (SEQ ID NO: 41) and zc50658 (SEQ ID NO: 42) as primers. These cDNAs encode zsig81 , beginning at P35, a 3′ extension encoding a carboxy-terminal linker (SEQ ID NO: 32). Using cDNA encoding murine p19 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for murine p19 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50659 (SEQ ID NO: 43) and zc50657 (SEQ ID NO: 44) as primers. These cDNAs encode murine p19, beginning at R20, a 5′ extension complementary to the 3′ extension on the zsig81 cDNAs, encoding an amino-terminal linker, and a 3′ extension encoding a 6× his tag. Following agarose gel purification the cDNAs were inserted into BgIII cut pzmp2l by three-way yeast recombination in vivo. Yeast DNA was isolated and transformed into E. coli for amplification. Plasmid DNA was prepared in E. coli, DH10B and purified using QIAFILTER Maxi-prep kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) as described by manufacturer. All constructs were sequence verified.

4. Zcyto35CHis

Constructs for the expression of zcyto35f2 (which is zsig81 and p35 expressed as a single chain construct) were prepared in the expression vector pZMP21. Plasmid pZMP21 is a mammalian expression vector containing an expression cassette having the MPSV promoter, and multiple restriction sites for insertion of coding sequences; an E. coli origin of replication; a mammalian selectable marker expression unit comprising an SV40 promoter, enhancer and origin of replication, a DHFR gene, and the SV40 terminator; and URA3 and CEN-ARS sequences required for selection and replication in S. cerevisiae, (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and designated No. PTA-5266).

Furthermore, constructs for the expression of zcyto35f2 with a C-terminal 6× His tag (SEQ ID NO:64) were prepared. Using the cDNA encoding zsig81 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for zsig81 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50765 (SEQ ID NO: 34) and zc50768 (SEQ ID NO: 36), or zc50766 (SEQ ID NO: 35) and zc50768 (SEQ ID NO: 36) as primers. These cDNAs encode zsig81, beginning at W23 (shown as residue 6 of SEQ ID NO: 2) or S38 (shown as residue 21 of SEQ ID NO: 2), a 5′ extension encoding an amino-terminal linker and a 3′ extension encoding a carboxy-terminal histidine tag. Using cDNA encoding p35 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for p35 (SEQ ID NO: 5) were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc51016 (SEQ ID NO: 45) and zc51017 (SEQ ID NO: 46) as primers. These cDNAs encode p35, beginning at M1 (SEQ ID NO: 6), a 3′ extension complementary to the 5′ extension on the zsig81 cDNAs, encoding an carboxy-terminal linker (SEQ ID NO: 32). Following agarose gel purification the cDNAs were inserted into EcoRI/BgIII cut pzmp21 by three-way yeast recombination in vivo. Yeast DNA was isolated and transformed into E. coli for amplification. Plasmid DNA was prepared in E. coli DH10B and purified using QIAFILTER Maxi-prep kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) as described by manufacturer. All constructs were sequence verified.

5. Murine zcyto35f2CHis

Constructs for the expression of murine zcyto35f2 were prepared in the expression vector pZMP21. Plasmid pZMP21 is a mammalian expression vector containing an expression cassette having the MPSV promoter, and multiple restriction sites for insertion of coding sequences; a TPA leader sequence, an E. coli origin of replication; a mammalian selectable marker expression unit comprising an SV40 promoter, enhancer and origin of replication, a DHFR gene, and the SV40 terminator; and URA3 and CEN-ARS sequences required for selection and replication in S. cerevisiae, (deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, and designated No. PTA-5266).

Furthermore, constructs for the expression of murine zcyto35f2 (SEQ ID NO: 59) with a C-terminal 6× His tag (SEQ ID NO:6) were prepared. Using the cDNA encoding zsig81 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for murine zsig81 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc51754 (SEQ ID NO: 47) and zc51759 (SEQ ID NO: 48) as primers. These cDNAs encode zsig81, beginning at R22, a 5′ extension encoding a carboxy-terminal linker (SEQ ID NO: 32), and a 3′ extension encoding a C-terminal 6× his tag. Using cDNA encoding murine p35 as a template, PCR-amplified cDNAs for murine p35 were prepared using the oligonucleotides zc50659 (SEQ ID NO: 43) and zc50657 (SEQ ID NO: 44) as primers. These cDNAs encode murine p35, beginning at M1, and a 5′ extension complementary to the 3′ extension on the zsig81 cDNAs, encoding an amino-terminal linker. Following agarose gel purification the cDNAs were inserted into BgIII cut pzmp21 by three-way yeast recombination in vivo. Yeast DNA was isolated and transformed into E. coli for amplification. Plasmid DNA was prepared in E. coli DH10B and purified using QIAFILTER Maxi-prep kit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif. ) as described by manufacturer. All constructs were sequence verified.

C. Expression in HEK293T Cells

1. zsig81

HEK293T cells (ATCC No. CRL 11268) were transfected with expression constructs for zsig81M1-Cflag or zsig81 CHis . Lipofectamine 2000 (12 μL) was combined with 3 μg of construct DNA and allowed to complex at 25° C. for 20 min. 2×106 293T cells were added to the Lipofectamine 2000 complex and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. Transfected cells were then plated into 6-well collagen coated plates for 24 hrs. Cells were then switched to serum-free media and incubated for an additional 48 hrs. The conditioned media (CM) was collected (5 mL) and spun down to remove debris. The transfected cells were lysed in 1.5 RIPA lysis buffer (20 mM Tris:HCL, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EGTA, 1% TX-100, and complete protease inhibitors (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany)) and spun down to remove debris. The CM was incubated overnight at 4° C. with either 50 μl Anti-FlagM2-Agarose (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) or 50 μl NiNTA (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The affinity resin was collected, washed with PBS and the bound proteins were eluted in 50 μl 2× reducing loading buffer (InVitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) at 80° C. The samples were then analyzed by western blot using Anti-FlagM2 antibody (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.) or Anti-His antibody (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). All of the zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81-Chis protein expressed in HEK293T cells that were transfected with the respective expression vectors, was cell associated, and no zsig81X1M1-Cflag or zsig81 -Chis protein was found in the CM.

2. zcyto33f2 and zcyto35f2

HEK293T cells (ATCC No. CRL 11268) were transfected with expression constructs for human zcyto33f2Chis, human zcyto33Nhis, murine zcyto33f2Chis, human zcyto35f2Chis, and murine zcyto35f2Chis. Lipofectamine 2000 (12 μL) was combined with 3 μg of construct DNA and allowed to complex at 25° C. for 20 min. 2×10⁶ 293T cells were added to the Lipofectamine 2000 complex and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. Transfected cells were then plated, in serum free medium, into 35 mm tissue culture plates (Costar) for 48 hrs. The conditioned media (CM) was collected (5 mLs) and spun down to remove debris. The transfected cells were lysed in 1.5 RIPA lysis buffer (20 mM Tris:HCL, pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EGTA, 1% TX-100, and complete protease inhibitors (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany)) and spun down to remove debris. The CM was incubated overnight at 4° C. with either 50 μl NiNTA (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The affinity resin was collected, washed with PBS and the bound proteins were eluted in 50 μl 2× reducing loading buffer (InVitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) at 80° C. The samples were then analyzed by western blot using Anti-His antibody (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). All of the His-tagged protein expressed in HEK293T cells, transfected with the respective expression vectors, was found in the CM.

Example 2

Co-Expression with IL-6 and IL-12 Family Members

Expression constructs for zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81 -Chis were transfected in combination with expression constructs for IL23A (Oppman et al., Immunity 13:715-725, 2000), IL-12p35, L12p40 (Koybayaski et al., J. Exp. Med. 170:827-845, 1989), EBI3 (Pflanz et al., Immunity 16:779-790, 2002), soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6Sr; Lust, et al., Cytokine, 4(2):, 96-100, 1992), Neurotrophic Factor Receptor (CNTFR; Panayotaros, et. al,. Biochemistry, 33(19): 5813-5818, 1994), Cardiotrophin-Like Cytokine or CLF—Cytokine-Like Factor. (CLC and CLF; Elson, et. al, Nature Neuroscience, 3(9): 867-872, 2000), or LIF (SEQ ID NO: 10) into HEK293T cells. Lipofectamnine 2000 (InVitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) was combined with 3 ug of each construct DNA and allowed to complex at 25° C. for 20 min. 2×10⁶ HEK293T cells were added to the Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) complex and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. Transfected cells were then plated into 6-well collagen coated plates for 24 hrs. Culture medium was removed and replaced with serum-free media, and the cell were incubated for and additional 48 hrs. After 48 hrs., the conditioned media was collected and cleared of cell debris by centrifuge. The cells were lysed with RIPA lysis buffer (1.5 mLs) and the lysate was cleared of cell debris by centrifuge. Both conditioned media and whole cell lysates were combined with 50 IL1 Ni NTA-agarose (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). Conditioned medium and lysate from the cells transfected with zsig81 alone were combined with 50 μl of anti-FLAG agarose (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, Mo.). Following an overnight incubation, the resins from the immunoprecipitation reactions were pelleted and washed once with PBS and then analyzed by SDS-PAGE and western blot. Blots were incubated with an anti-FLAG-bio M2 antibody (1:3000) overnight at 4° C. with agitation. Blots were then washed and then avidin-HRP (1:5000) was added for 1 hr. at 25° C. After a final wash, ECL was used to visualize the Western blots. The western blots show that when zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81 -Chis are expressed alone, the majority of the zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81 -Chis protein is retained in the whole cell lysate fraction. Co-expression of zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81 -Chis with L23A-C-His or HL23A-CFlag, resulted in the secretion of both zsig81 -CTag and IL-23A-Ctag. Furthermore, Co-expression of zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81 -Chis with L12p35-C-his or IL12p35-Cflag, resulted in the secretion of both zsig81 -Ctag and L12p35-Ctag In contrast, co-expression of zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81 -Chis with the other members of the L-6 and L-12 family members did not lead to secretion of either zsig81 -Cflag or zsig81 -Chis. These data show that IL23A and W12p35, but none of the other proteins tested, could stimulate the secretion of zsig81-Cflag or zsig81-Chis.

In a subsequent experiment when zsig81 -Cflag and IL23A-Chis were co-expressed in the same cell, either Ni NTA-agarose (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) or an anti-Flag antibody (Sigma Chemical Co., St Louis, Mo.) were able to immunoprecipitate zsig81 -Cflag from 293T conditioned media. In addition, anti-FLAG-agarose (Sigma Chemical Co., St Louis, Mo.) was able to capture IL23A-Chis from the same conditioned medium. Additional experiments showed that when zsig81 Cflag and L12p35Chis were co-expressed in the same cell, either Ni NTA-agarose (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) or an anti-Flag antibody (sigma Chemical Co., St Louis, Mo.)+Ni NTA-agarose were able to immunoprecipitate zsig81 Cflag from 293T conditioned media. In addition, anti-FLAG-agarose (Sigma Chemical Co., St Louis, Mo.) was able to capture IL12p35Chis from the same conditioned medium. These data demonstrate a close association zsig81 Cflag with both IL12p35Chis and p19Chis.

The results of these experiments show that secretion of zsig81 -Cflag is dependent on the co-expression of either IL12p35CHis or p19CHis, illustrated by the lack of secretion of zsig81Cflag when paired with other proteins of the IL-6 or IL12 family and the robust secretion in the presence of IL12p35Chis or p19Chis. Furthermore, the immunoprecipitation experiments showed that there is a close association of zsi81Cflag, and L12p35Chis or p19Chis.

Example 3

Isolation of RNA Samples for Expression Profiling

Total RNA was purified from resting and stimulated cell lines grown in-house and purified using an acid-phenol purification protocol (Chomczynski and Sacchi, Analytical Biochemistry, 162:156-9, 1987). The quality of the RNA was assessed by running an aliquot on an Agilent Bloanalyzer according to the manufacturer's instructions. The total RNA was DNAsed using DNA-free reagents (Ambion, Inc, Austin, Tex.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Presence of contaminating genomic DNA was assessed by a PCR assay on an aliquot of the RNA with zc41011 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and zc41012 (SEQ ID NO: 12), primers that amplify a single site of intergenic genomic DNA. The PCR conditions for the contaminating genomic DNA assay were as follows: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 0.5 μl 20 uM zc41011 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and zc41012 (SEQ ID NO: 12), in a final volume of 25 μl. Cycling parameters were 94° C. 2′, 40 cycles of 94° C. 15″ 67° C. 50″ and one cycle of 72° C. 5′. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were examined for presence of a PCR product from contaminating genomic DNA. If contaminating genomic DNA was observed, the total RNA was DNAsed using DNA-free reagents (Ambion, Inc, Austin, Tex.) according to the manufacturer's instructions, then retested as described above. Only RNAs which appeared to be free of contaminating genomic DNA were used for subsequent creation of first strand cDNA.

Example 4

1st Strand cDNA Production

10 μg total RNA from human cell lines were each brought to 47 μl with H₂O in duplicate, to create a plus Reverse Transcriptase (RT) sample and a corresponding negative control minus RT sample for each cell line. Reagents for first strand cDNA synthesis were added (Invitrogen First Strand cDNA Synthesis System, Carlsbad, Calif.): 20 μl 25 mM MgCl2, 10 μl 10× RT buffer, 10 μl 0.1 M DTT, 5 μl 10 mM dNTP mix, 2 μl Random hexamers (for CaCo2 cells), 2 μl oligo dT, 2 μl RNAseOut. Then, to one aliquot from each cell line 2 μl Superscript II Reverse Transcriptase was added, and to the corresponding cell line aliquot 2 μl H2O was added to make a minus RT negative control. All samples were incubated as follows: 25° C. 10′, 42° C. 50′, 70° C. 15′. Quality of the first strand cDNA for each sample was assessed by a multiplex PCR assay using 1 μl of sample and primers to two widely expressed, but only moderately abundant genes, CLTC (clathrin) and TFRC (transferrin receptor C). 1.0 μl (20 pmol/μl ) each of Clathrin primers zc42901 (SEQ ID NO: 13), zc42902 (SEQ ID NO: 14), and TFRC primers zc42599 (SEQ ID NO: 15), zc42600 (SEQ ID NO: 16), were mixed with 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and added to 1st strand sample. Cycling parameters were as follows: 94° C. 2.0″, 35 cycles of 94° C. 30″, 61° C. 30″, 72° C. 30″, and one cycle of 72° C. 5′. 10 ul of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for the presence of a robust PCR product for each gene specific to the +RT sample for each cell line. First strand cDNAs passing the quality assessment were then diluted 1:5 in TE, 5 μl of which are representative of first strand cDNA resulting from 100 ng starting total RNA.

Example 5

A. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for p35

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for p35 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 2 and contained first strand cDNA samples from 12 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 96-well format that included 1 positive control sample, human genomic DNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). A dilution series of the samples was created. Each well contained either 5 μl of cDNA and 10.5 μl of water, 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water or 1 μl of a 1:5 dilution of cDNA and 14.5 μl water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for p35 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc16909 (SEQ ID NO: 15) and antisense oligo zc45224 (SEQ ID NO: 16) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 62.0° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 1 minute and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 minutes. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of p35. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 280 bp from cDNA and 1272 bp from genomic DNA. See tables 1 and 2 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for p35 mRNA and the results. TABLE 1 cDNA's P35 CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with INFg +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT YES CaCo2 +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with IL1a +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with INFg +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT YES HT-29 +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with INFg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO CaCo2 −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with INFg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO HT-29 −RT NO

TABLE 2 cDNA's P35 SKLU-1 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b +RT YES SKLU-1 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b −RT NO B. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for p40

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for p40 expression using PCR. The samples were generated as described in example 3A and contained first strand cDNA samples from 12 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 96-well format that included one positive control sample, human genomic DNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). A dilution series of the samples was created. Each well contained either 5 μl of cDNA and 10.5 μl of water, 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water or 1 μl of a 1:5 dilution of cDNA and 14.5 μl water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for p40 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc49543 (SEQ ID NO: 17) and antisense oligo zc49544 (SEQ ID NO: 18) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2™ cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 2.5 ul 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 70° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 45 seconds and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 minutes. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of p40 . The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 180 bp from cDNA and 723 bp from genomic DNA. See tables 3 and 4 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for p40 mRNA and the results. TABLE 3 cDNA's P40 CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with INFg +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT NO CaCo2 +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with INFg +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT NO HT-29 +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with INFg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO CaCo2 −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with INFg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO HT-29 −RT NO

TABLE 4 cDNA's P40 SKLU-1 +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b +RT NO SKLU-1 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b −RT NO C. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for p19

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for p19 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 3A and contained first strand cDNA samples from 12 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 96-well format that included one positive control sample, human genomic DNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). A dilution series of the samples was created. Each well contained either 5 μl of cDNA and 10.5 μl of water, 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water or 1 μl of a 1:5 dilution of cDNA and 14.5 μl water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for p19 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc49302 (SEQ ID NO: 19) and antisense oligo zc49303 (SEQ ID NO: 20) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2™ cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 68° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 30 seconds and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of p19. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 344 bp from cDNA and 614 bp from genomic DNA. See tables 5 and 6 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for p19 mRNA and the results. TABLE 5 cDNA's P19 CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with INFg +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT NO CaCo2 +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with TNFa +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with INFg +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT YES HT-29 +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with INFg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO CaCo2 −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with INFg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO HT-29 −RT NO

TABLE 6 cDNA's P19 SKLU-1 +RT MAYBE SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b +RT YES SKLU-1 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b −RT NO D. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for EBI-3

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for EBI-3 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 3A and contained first strand cDNA samples from 12 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 96-well format that included one positive control sample, human placenta Marathon cDNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). A dilution series of the samples was created. Each well contained either 5 μl of cDNA and 10.5 μl of water, 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water or 1 μl of a 1:5 dilution of cDNA and 14.5 μl water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for EBI-3 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc16908 (SEQ ID NO: 21) and antisense oligo zc44196 (SEQ ID NO: 22) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2™ m cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 uM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 68° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 30 seconds and one cycle of 72° C. 5 minutes. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of EBI-3. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 328 bp from cDNA. See tables 7 and 8 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for EBI-3 mRNA and the results. TABLE 7 cDNA's EBI-3 CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with INFg +RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT NO CaCo2 +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with IL1a +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with INFg +RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT MAYBE HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT YES HT-29 +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with INFg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO CaCo2 −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with INFg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO HT-29 −RT NO

TABLE 8 cDNA's EBI-3 SKLU-1 +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 +RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b +RT YES SKLU-1 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b −RT NO E. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for Zsig81

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for zsig81 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 3A and contained first strand cDNA samples from 12 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 96-well format that included 1 positive control sample, human colon 1st strand cDNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). A dilution series of the samples was created. Each well contained either 5 μl of cDNA and 10.5 μl of water, 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water or 1 μl of a 1:5 dilution of cDNA and 14.5 μl water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for zsig81 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc50352 (SEQ ID NO: 23) and antisense oligo zc50354 (SEQ ID NO: 24) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2™ cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μl each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 68° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C for 30 seconds and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 minutes. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of zsig81. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 250 bp from cDNA. See tables 9 and 10 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for zsig81 mRNA and the results. TABLE 9 cDNA's ZSIG81 CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with INFg +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT YES CaCo2 +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with IL1a +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with TNFa +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with INFg +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg +RT YES HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg +RT YES HT-29 +RT YES CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with INFg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO CaCo2 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO CaCo2 −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with INFg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with IL1a and IFNg −RT NO HT-29 stimulated with TNFa and INFg −RT NO HT-29 −RT NO

TABLE 10 cDNA's Zsig81 SKLU-1 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A +RT YES SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b +RT YES SKLU-1 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with TNF −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with LPS −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IFNg −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-4 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-13 −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-17A −RT NO SKLU-1 stimulated with IL-1b −RT NO

Example 6

Zsig81 Knockout Mice

A. Generation of Knockout (KO) Construct for Murine zsig81.

To further study biological function of zsig81 in vivo, a mouse Knockout (KO) strain is created to ablate zsig81 expression. First, mouse zsig81 cDNA probes are used to screen a mouse 129/SvJ genomic BAC library. Clones containing zsig81 genomic locus are identified and characterized.

To create a knockout construct for ablation of zsig81 , a knockout vector is made by using ET cloning technique (Zhang et al. Nat. Genet. 20:123-8, 1998). Briefly, the KO vector contains a 1.5 kb 5′ arm (short arm), an IRES-LacZ/MC1neo selectable marker, and a 9.0 Kb 3′ arm (long arm) of zsig81 gene. In the KO vector, majority of exons 2 and 3, as well as intron 2 of zsig81 genomic sequence are replaced by the IRES-LacZ/MC1neo selectable marker so that a deletion of about 2.0 Kb is generated by homologous recombination in ES cells.

After linearization of the KO vector by restriction enzyme PmeI, it is electroporated into 129/SvJ ES cells. Selection of homologous recombination events, as well as identification of recombinant ES clones are performed as described in Robertson, E. J. et al. Teratocarcinomas and Embryonic Stem Cells: A Practical Approach, 2nd ed., IRL Press Limited, Oxford, 1987.

B. Creation and Analysis of Mice with Ablated zsig81 Expression.

Positive ES clones, in which deletion of Exons 2-3 and Introns 2 of zsig81 genomic locus occurs, are expanded. They are injected into balstocysts of C57B1/6j mice. After brief re-expansion of the injected blastocysts, they are introduced into pseudo-pregnant foster mothers to generate chimeras. Blastocyst injection, chimera breeding and subsequent genrline transmission of mutated zsig81 are performed as described in Robertson, E. J. et al. ibid., 1987.

The KO mutant mice are identified by PCR genotyping strategy. Three PCR primers, zc28200 (SEQ ID NO: 25), zc28757 (SEQ ID NO: 26), and zc38398 (SEQ ID NO: 27) are used in a multiplex PCR reaction to detect wild-type allele and mutant allele. The wild type allele yields a DNA fragment of 143 bp in length, while the KO allele generates a DNA fragment of 223 bp in length.

The pairing of hemizygote mice produce a normal ratio of homozygote (HOM), heterozygote (Het), and wild type (wt) offspring, as well as a normal sex ratio. Inspecting the mice includes collecting body weight, tissue weight, complete blood count (CBC), clinical chemistry, gross observation, and HistoPathology) and reveals no significant differences between HOM, Het; and wildtype animals.

Example 7

Zsig81 Knockout Mouse Asthma Model

To determine the possible role that zsig81 may play in the development of antigen-induced airway hyper-responsiveness, zsig81 KO mice in a murine model of OVA-induced asthma were tested. Briefly, zsig81 KO and wildtype mice were sensitized to OVA proten via intraperitoneal injection of OVA in alum adjuvant (10 μg/50% alum) on day 0 and day 7. One week later, mice were challenged intranasally on two consecutive days (day 14 and 15) with OVA protein. Forty-eight hours after the last challenge, serum, bronchoalvolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue were collected for analysis. In addition, a small cohort of mice were tested for antigen-induced airway hyper-responsiveness via the plethysmograph. These studies have been done twice

Results:

(i) Serum. In both studies there was no significant difference in the levels of total IgE or OVA-specific IgE between zsig81 KO and wildtype mice.

(ii) BAL cellular infiltrate. In both studies, there was no significant difference between zsig81 KO or wildtype in the percent of infiltrating cells in the lung or the types of infiltrating cells (ie. lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages and eosinophils).

(iii) BAL fluid cytokines. Analysis of BAL fluid cytokines have been completed for only one of the two studies. The data suggest that BAL fluid from zsig81 KO mice had significantly lower levels of IL-5, IL-13 and TNFa compared to wildtype mice and significantly higher levels of IFNg.

(iv) Lung Pathology. Pathology analysis of lungs from wildtype and zsig81 KO mice suggested no obvious differences between groups in the severity or distribution of changes associated with inflammation in these mice. These data need to be repeated.

(iv) Airway hyper-responsiveness as measured by plethysmography. In both studies the zsigKO mice demonstrated significantly increased susceptibility to antigen-induced airway hyper-responsiveness compared to wildtype mice (p<0.001).

The analysis of AHR by plethysmography shows that the zsig81 KO mice are more susceptible to antigen-induced hyper-responsiveness even though no increase in antigen-specific IgE levels or cellular infiltrates in the lung were seen. These data suggest that zsig81 KO mice may have structural issues in the lung that promote susceptibility to asthma.

Example 8

A. 1 st Strand PCR Experiment for p35

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for p35 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 2 and contained first strand cDNA samples from 4 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 24-well format that included 1 positive control sample, human genomic DNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Each well contained 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for p35 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc16909 (SEQ ID NO: 15) and antisense oligo zc45224 (SEQ ID NO: 16) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 ul 10× buffer and 0.5 ul ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (TAKARA bio Inc., Shiga, Japan), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 uM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 62° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 1 minute and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 minutes. 10 ul of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of p35. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 280 bp from cDNA and 1272 bp from genomic DNA. See table 11 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for p35 mRNA and the results. TABLE 11 cDNA's P35 NHBE −RT NO NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg NHBE stimulated with −RT NO TNFa NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg and TNFa NHBE +RT YES NHBE stimulated with +RT YES IFNg NHBE stimulated with +RT YES TNFa NHBE stimulated with +RT YES IFNg and TNFa B. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for p40

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for p40 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 2 and contained first strand cDNA samples from 4 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 24-well format that included 1 positive control sample, human genomic DNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Each well contained 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for p40 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc49543(SEQ ID NO: 17) and antisense oligo zc49544 (SEQ ID NO: 18) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (TAKARA bio Inc., Shiga, Japan), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 62° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 1 minute and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 minutes. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of p40. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 180 bp from cDNA and 723 bp from genomic DNA. See table 12 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for p40 mRNA and the results. TABLE 12 cDNA's P40 NHBE −RT NO NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg NHBE stimulated with −RT NO TNFa NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg and TNFa NHBE +RT NO NHBE stimulated with +RT NO IFNg NHBE stimulated with +RT NO TNFa NHBE stimulated with +RT NO IFNg and TNFa C. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for p19

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for p19 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 2 and contained first strand cDNA samples from 4 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 24-well format that included 1 positive control sample, human genomic DNA (BD Bioscience Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.). Each well contained 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for p19 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc49302(SEQ ID NO: 19) and antisense oligo zc49303 (SEQ ID NO: 20) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (TAKARA bio Inc., Shiga, Japan), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 62.0° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 1 minute electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of p19. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 344 bp from cDNA and 614 bp from genomic DNA. See table 13 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for p19 mRNA and the results. TABLE 13 cDNA's P19 NHBE −RT NO NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg NHBE stimulated with −RT NO TNFa NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg and TNFa NHBE +RT YES NHBE stimulated with +RT YES IFNg NHBE stimulated with +RT YES TNFa NHBE stimulated with +RT YES IFNg and TNFa D. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for EBI-3

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for EBI-3 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 2 and contained first strand cDNA samples from 4 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 24-well format that included 1 positive control sample, human placenta cDNA (in-house). Each well contained 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for EBI-3 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc16908 (SEQ ID NO: 21) and antisense oligo zc44196 (SEQ ID NO: 22) under these PCR conditions per sample: 2.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (TAKARA bio Inc., Shiga, Japan), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 62.0° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 1 minute and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 minutes. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of EBI-3. The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 328 bp from cDNA. See table 14 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for EBI-3 mRNA and the results. TABLE 14 cDNA's EBI-3 NHBE −RT NO NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg NHBE stimulated with −RT NO TNFa NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg and TNFa NHBE +RT NO NHBE stimulated with +RT NO IFNg NHBE stimulated with +RT YES TNFa NHBE stimulated with +RT YES IFNg and TNFa E. 1st Strand PCR Experiment for Zsig81

A set of 1st strand cDNAs from resting and stimulated human cell lines was screened for zsig81 expression using PCR. The samples were generated in-house as described in example 2 and contained first strand cDNA samples from 4 resting and stimulated human cell lines, along with their respective minus reverse transcriptase negative controls. The panel was set up in a 24-well format that included one positive control sample, human colon 1st strand cDNA (in-house). Each well contained 1 μl of cDNA and 14.5 μl of water. Expression of the DNA in the resting and stimulated human cell lines samples for zsig81 was assayed by PCR with sense oligo zc50352 (SEQ ID NO: 23) and antisense oligo zc50354 (SEQ ID NO: 24) under these PCR conditions per sample: 22.5 μl 10× buffer and 0.5 μl ADVANTAGE 2 cDNA polymerase mix (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.), 2 μl 2.5 mM dNTP mix (TAKARA bio Inc., Shiga, Japan), 2.5 μl 10× Rediload (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), and 1.0 μl 20 μM each sense and antisense primer. Cycling conditions were 94° C. for 2 minutes, 35 cycles of 94° C. for 30 seconds, 62.0° C. for 30 seconds, 72° C. for 1 min and one cycle of 72° C. for 5 minutes. 10 μl of each reaction was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and gels were scored for positive or negative expression of zsig81 . The expected PCR products with these oligonucleotides are 250 bp from cDNA. See table 15 below listing the cell line samples that were assayed for zsig81 mRNA and the results. TABLE 15 cDNA's Zsig81 NHBE −RT NO NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg NHBE stimulated with −RT NO TNFa NHBE stimulated with −RT NO IFNg and TNFa NHBE +RT YES NHBE stimulated with +RT YES IFNg NHBE stimulated with +RT YES TNFa NHBE stimulated with +RT YES IFNg and TNFa

Example 9

A. Constructs for Generating zcyto33f2 Transgenic Mice

Oligonucleotides are designed to generate a PCR fragment containing a consensus Kozak sequence and the human zcyto33f2 coding region. These oligonucleotides are designed with an FseI site at the 5′ end (zc50983; SEQ ID NO: 67) and an AscI site at the 3′ end zc50984; SEQ ID NO: 68) to facilitate cloning into pKFO51, a lymphoid-specific transgenic vector.

PCR reactions are carried out with about 20 ng human zcyto33f2 template and above oligonucleotides designed to amplify the full-length portion of the zcyto33f2. A PCR reaction is performed using methods known in the art. The isolated, correct sized DNA fragment is digested with FseI and AscI (Boerhinger-Mannheim), ethanol precipitated and ligated into pKFO51 previously digested with FseI and AscI. The pKFO51 transgenic vector is derived from p1026X (Iritani, B. M., et al., EMBO J. 16:7019-31, 1997) and contains the T cell-specific Ick proximal promoter, the B/T cell-specific immunoglobulin μ heavy chain enhancer, a polylinker for the insertion of the desired clone, and a mutated hGH gene that encodes an inactive growth hormone protein (providing 3′ introns and a polyadenylation signal).

About one microliter of each ligation reaction is electroporated, plated, clones picked and screened for the human zcyto33f2 insert by restriction digestion as described above. A correct clone of pKFO51-zcyto33f2 is verified by sequencing, and a maxiprep of this clone is performed. A NotI fragment, containing the lck proximal promoter and immunoglobulin β enhancer (EμLCK), zcyto33f2 cDNA, and the mutated hGH gene is prepared to be used for microinjection into fertilized murine oocytes. Microinjection and production of transgenic mice are produced as described in Hogan, B. et al. Manipulating the Mouse Embryo, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, N.Y., 1994.

B. Constructs for Generating zcvto35f2 Transgenic Mice

Oligonucleotides are designed to generate a PCR fragment containing a consensus Kozak sequence and the human zcyto35f2 coding region. These oligonucleotides are designed with an FseI site at the 5′ end (zc52289; SEQ ID NO: 69) and an AscI site at the 3′ end (zc52290; SEQ ID NO: 70) to facilitate cloning into pKFO51, a lymphoid-specific transgenic vector.

PCR reactions are carried out with about 200 ng human zcyto35f2 template and above oligonucleotides designed to amplify the full-length portion of the zcyto35f2. A PCR reaction is performed using methods known in the art. The isolated, correct sized DNA fragment is digested with FseI and AscI (Boerhinger-Mannheim), ethanol precipitated and ligated into pKFO51 previously digested with FseI and AscI. The pKFO51 transgenic vector is derived from p1026X (Iritani, B. M., et al., EMBO J. 16:7019-31, 1997) and contains the T cell-specific Ick proximal promoter, the B/F cell-specific immunoglobulin μ heavy chain enhancer, a polylinker for the insertion of the desired clone, and a mutated hGH gene that encodes an inactive growth hormone protein (providing 3′ introns and a polyadenylation signal).

About one microliter of each ligation reaction is electroporated, plated, clones picked and screened for the human zcyto35f2 insert by restriction digestion as described above. A correct clone of pKFO51-zcyto35f2 is verified by sequencing, and a maxiprep of this clone is performed. A NotI fragment, containing the lck proximal promoter and immunoglobulin it enhancer (EμLCK), zcyto35f2 cDNA, and the mutated hGH gene is prepared to be used for microinjection into fertilized murine oocytes. Microinjection and production of transgenic mice are produced as described in Hogan, B. et al. Manipulating the Mouse Embryo, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, N.Y., 1994.

C. Preparing Transgenic Animals

Splenocytes were collected from animals carrying a zcyto33f2 transgene. The ability of these cells to respond in vitro was measured by stimulating whole populations of splenocytes with T cell mitogenic antibodies (anti-CD3 and anti-CD28) or B cell mitogenic antibodies (anti-IgM). Proliferative responses were then measured by the incorporation of tritiated-thymidine. T cell responses in zcyto33f2 transgenic animals were generally normal. In comparison we observed diminished B cell proliferative responses in IgM stimulated splenocytes from zctyto33f2 transgenic animals. These responses were observed in multiple animals from two independently generated transgenic lines and there was a general correlation with transgene expression level (as measured by expression of transcript from a human growth hormone tag incorporated into the transgene vector). The presence of this phenotype in two independent lines and the correlation with expression level suggest that it is a direct consequence of transgene expression. Exposure to zcyto33f2 thus affects the ability of splenic B cells to productively respond to stimulation through the B-cell receptor. This could be due to a direct effect on B cell activation but could also reflect a developmental abnormality.

Transgenic animals carrying a zcyto35 transgene were generated by microinjection. Spleen biopsies were performed on four individual founder animals using standard survival surgery techniques, and immune development assessed by flow cytometric analysis of cell suspensions generated from these biopsies. Two of four founder animals analysed exhibited alterations in T cell development, with an increase in the percentage of CD4 positive T cells and a decrease in the percentage of CD8+ T cells. Amongst the CD4+ population there was increased expression of CD25, a marker of activated and T regulatory cells. The same two animals also exhibited alterations in B cell development, with an increase in immature B cells and a decrease in mature B cells. Both of these animals expressed the zcyto35 transgene, as measured by expression of transcript from a human growth hormone tag incorporated into the transgene vector. This suggests that zcyto35 is an immunologically active molecule.

Lymphoid organs from zcyto33f2 animals were also examined by flow cytometric analysis and immune development evaluated. Zcyto33f2 transgenic animals exhibited modest but intermittent alterations in T cell and B cell populations in spleen and bone marrow, with a trend towards elevated CD4+ T cells and towards decreased B cells and CD8+ T cells.

Transgenic Histology

Nine male and 10 female high expressing transgenic and 3 male and 4 female cohort wild-type mice ranging in age from 9 to 35 weeks were necropsied and their tissues submitted for histopathology. A full tissue screen (30 tissues) was conducted on 11 transgenic and 3 wild-type mice, and a limited screen (lung, small intestine, and large intestine) was done on 8 transgenic and 4 wild-type mice. The tissues were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin, routinely processed into paraffin blocks, sectioned at 5 μm, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.

Peribronchiolar and perivascular mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrates were observed in the lungs of 17 of 19 transgenic mice (89%) and in the lungs of 2 wild type mice (29%). Mononuclear infiltrates were also present in the lamina propria of the small intestine of 8 of 19 transgenic mice, in the lamina propria of the large intestine of 3 of 19 transgenics, and in the submucosa or mucosa of the stomach of 5 of 11 transgenics. Additional changes observed in the small intestine of the transgenic animals included crypt dilatation (8 animals; this change was also observed in 1 wild-type mouse) and epithelial hyperplasia (6 animals). Nearly all of the above changes were graded as minimal-to-mild severity. No significant changes beyond normal background findings were observed in other tissues examined.

Mild inflammation appears to be part of the zcyto33f2 phenotype. Mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrates are common incidental findings in the tissues of mice. However, the incidence of mononuclear infiltrates was high in the lungs and intestinal tracts of the zcyto33f2 transgenics. Mononuclear infiltrates were either not observed in the lung and intestine of wild-type cohorts or were present in these animals at a low incidence. Crypt dilatation and epithelial hyperplasia in the intestine of the transgenic mice are most likely associated with the inflammatory changes observed in this tissue.

Example 10

Primary and secondary antigen-specific immune responses in zcyto33f2 transgenic mice

Zcyto33f2 transgenic and wildtype mice were immunized and challenged with TNP-KLH to determine if there were any differences in antigen-specific responses between mice. Mice from 4 different zcyto33f2 lines; 13370, 13391, 13323, 13334 and wildtype mice were immunized subcutaneously (sc) with 100 μg TNP-KLH in alum on day 0 and boosted IP with 100 μg TNP-KLH on day 22. Serum was collected via retroorbital bleed on days −3, 7, 21 and 29 relative to immunization. TNP-specific IgG1 and IgM responses and total serum IgG1 and IgM were measured by ELISA. At the end of the study animals were euthanized and spleens were collected for FACS and ex vivo stimulation. TABLE 16 Group n mice Immunization Bleeds Boost Assays A 23 Zcyto33f2-SC 100 ug TNP- Day −3, 7, 21, 100 ug TNP- Anti-TNP IgG1 4 lines KLH 4.5% 28 KLH ip and IgM 16 × female, 7 × male alum sc in both Day 22 Serum cytokines B 14 Non tg flanks Spleens/BM 7 × female, 7 × male

TABLE 17 Day Weekday Date Procedure −3 F Apr. 14, 2006 Bleed mice for serum 0 M Apr. 17, 2006 Immunize mice sc with 100 ug TNP-KLH alum in both flanks 7 M Apr. 24, 2006 Bleed mice for serum 21 M May 08, 2006 Bleed mice for serum 22 Tu May 09, 2006 Boost 100 ug TNP-KLH ip 29 Tu May 16, 2006 Sac; splenectomize mice and collect blood via cardiac punch

Antigen Preparation (1:1) for Immunization:

1. Make 1 mg/ml TNP-KLH (Biosearch Technology Inc., Novato, Calif.) in sterile PBS or saline

2. Vortex Inject (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) to mix

3. Add antigen by drops with vortexing

4. Rock 30 minutes at room temperature

5. Inject 100 μl sc into both flanks (100 μg/mouse); use tuberculin syringe with 27 gauge needle

6. For Boost: inject 100 μg TNP-KLH in sterile PBS ip

Spleens, serum and femurs are harvested when the animals are sacrificed.

Assays

1. Serum anti-TNP IgG1 and IgM levels tested on days −3, 7, 21, 29

2. Serum cytokines are measured.

3. Ex vivo splenocyte proliferation is measured:

TNP-KLH (50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.12, 1.56, 0 μg/ml)

4. Ex vivo cytokine production is measured.

5. Bone marrow expansion is measured and phenotyped

Mice from transgenic line 13370 had increased antigen-specific and total IgM responses compared to wildtype mice. Their total IgG1 concentrations were slightly reduced. Mice from line 13391 had significantly increased antigen-specific and total IgM secondary responses (post IP boost) and increased antigen-specific and total IgG1 secondary responses (total IgG1 is significant). Mice from line 13323 had significantly less secondary ag-specific responses compared with wildtyp mice. There were no differences in immunoglobulin concentrations between wildtype and transgenic line 13334 mice.

Example 11

Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR)

Bone marrow was flushed from the femurs of Balb/C mice with PBS; 2% FBS, and passed through a cell strainer. Red blood cells were lysed and intact cells were isolated by centrifugation. Cells were plated at 1×10⁶ cells/mL in 100 ng/mL F1t2L (R & D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.), and cultured for seven days. On day 7 dendritic cells were harvested from the culture and treated for 18 hrs with 1 μg/mL mCD40L and 20 ng/mL murine interferony.

Splenocytes were isolated from zcyto33f2 transgenic animals (C57B6 background) and C57B6 wild type animals. Splenocytes were suspended in PBS at 1×10⁷ cells/mL and labeled with CFSE (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.).

1×10⁵ CFSE-labeled splenocytes from transgenic or wildtype mice were mixed with 1×10⁴ bone marrow derived dendritic cells from Balb/C mice and incubated for 4 days. The cells were then stained for cell surface expression of CD4 and CD8. Following staining, the cells were analyzed, by fluorescence activated cell sorting, for cell surface expression of CD4 or CD8 as well as for proliferation by cell count and by dilution of CFSE intensity.

Both CD4 and CD8 T-cells from zcyto33f2 transgenic animals showed a diminished proliferative response in an MLR assay when compared to T-cells from wild type animals. Taken together, these data along with expression data showing expression in epithelium of gut and lung, suggest that zcyto33f2 can act as a negative regulator of T-cell function to modulate the immune response in lung and gut epithelium.

The suggestion of effects on T-cell response is supported by the observation that zsig81 KO animals are more susceptible to lung hypersensitivity and to gut inflammation in the oxazalone model of IBD (T-cell dependent model).

Example 12

Colitis Induction Model

A study was done to determine if colitis could be induced using oxazolone in zcyto33f2 or zsig81 KO mice. Both lines were on a C57BU6 background that has been found to be resistant to experimentally induced colitis.

Day 0 Animals were lightly anesthetized, had their lower abdomen shaved, and painted with 200 μL 3% solution of oxazolone in 100% ethanol.

Day 6 Animals were fasted overnight to facilitate the rectal application of material.

Day 7 Animals were lightly anesthetized and 150 μL of 6% oxazolone emulsified in cornflower oil was applied rectally using 1.5″ PE50 tubing on a 23 g needle.

Day 9 Stools from all animals were collected and assessed for blood and diarrhea like symptoms.

Day 11 Animals were killed and colons were inspected for signs of inflammation.

Groups:

1. zcyto33f2, n=3, (control, just rectal corn oil)

2. zcyto33f2, n=3, (rectal 6% oxazolone in corn oil)

3. zsig81KO, n=4, (control, just rectal corn oil)

4. zsig81KO, n=5, (rectal 6% oxazolone in corn oil)

Measurements: Body weights—Day 7-11; blood in stools and watery stools—Day 9, 11; colon appearance—at sacrifice on day 11; The data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni posttests.

The raw body weights are given in Table 18. Body weights were expressed relative to the starting weight for each animal and then averaged for each group. The oxazolone treated zcyto33f2 mice had significantly lower body weights than control mice on Days 9 and 10. The zsig81KO mice showed different profiles following the fast and treatment with oxazolone. The oxazolone treated animals gained little weight following the fast while the corn oil only controls regained most of their body weight. These differences were significant for each of the days following the fast. Blood was not found in any of the stools and there was no evidence of diarrhea. At autopsy, all of the colons appeared free from inflammation.

Oxazolone induced colitis has been shown to work in C57BLU6 mice. In the present study, differences in weight gain characteristic of this model were observed in the zsig81KO mice but not in the zcyto33f2 mice. None of the mice developed colitis as defined by blood in the stool or watery stools. Colons at autopsy were not overtly inflamed and were similar in length between the groups. TABLE 18 Body weights. ID Gender Type Tx BW d0 BW d7 BW d8 BW d9 BW d10 BW d11 48107 m zcyto33f2 ox 24.1 19.7 22.1 23.3 22.9 24.4 48108 m zcyto33f2 ox 25.8 20.6 24.0 24.4 25.3 26.1 48575 f zcyto33f2 ox 21.1 17.0 19.9 20.1 19.4 21.5 47926 m zcyto33f2 co 28.7 22.4 26.7 27.6 29.0 29.4 58578 m zcyto33f2 co 25.4 20.3 23.8 25.4 26.2 26.5 58580 m zcyto33f2 co 24.4 19.3 23.9 25.1 25.1 25.8 53293 f zsig81KO ox 25.0 20.3 21.1 21.7 21.4 22.6 53294 f zsig81KO ox 29.6 22.8 24.2 22.9 22.3 23.8 53296 m zsig81KO ox 35.9 31.3 31.0 30.8 31.0 31.6 53297 m zsig81KO ox 33.8 29.8 29.2 28.4 26.5 27.0 53295 f zsig81KO co 26.4 20.3 23.2 24.2 24.2 24.5 53298 m zsig81KO co 31.8 27.6 30.6 31.3 30.6 30.5 53299 m zsig81KO co 38.6 34.6 36.3 35.8 35.1 34.8 53300 m zsig81KO co 28.2 23.5 26.3 27.8 27.7 27.8 

1. An isolated fusion protein comprising at least two polypeptides wherein a first polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO:
 4. 2. An isolated fusion protein comprising at least two polypeptides wherein a first polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO:
 4. 3. An isolated fusion protein comprising at least two polypeptides wherein a first polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO:
 4. 4. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the protein comprises a peptide linker as shown in SEQ ID NO: 33 or 38 between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide.
 5. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the protein comprises a peptide linker as shown in SEQ ID NO: 33 or 38 between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide.
 6. The fusion protein of claim 3, wherein the protein comprises a peptide linker as shown in SEQ ID NO: 33 or 38 between the first polypeptide and the second polypeptide.
 7. An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 361 as shown in SEQ ID NO:
 50. 8. An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 346 as shown in SEQ ID NO:
 52. 9. An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 425 as shown in SEQ ID NO:
 56. 10. An isolated polypeptide comprising amino acid residues 1 to 410 as shown in SEQ ID NO:
 58. 11. An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding a first polypeptide and a second polypeptide as shown in claim
 1. 12. An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding a first polypeptide and a second polypeptide as shown in claim
 2. 13. An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding a first polypeptide and a second polypeptide as shown in claim
 3. 14. An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding the polypeptide of claim
 7. 15. An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding the polypeptide of claim
 8. 16. An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding the polypeptide of claim
 9. 17. An isolated polynucleotide molecule encoding the polypeptide of claim
 10. 18. An expression vector comprising the following operably linked elements: a transcription promoter; a DNA segment encoding the polypeptide of any of claims 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, or 10; and a transcription terminator.
 19. A cultured cell into which the expression vector or claim 18 has been introduced.
 20. A method of treating an inflammatory disease comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; and (c) a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO:
 4. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the inflammatory disease is asthma or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
 22. A method of treating an autoimmune disease comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; and (c) a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO:
 4. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of muscular sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and graft versus host disease (GVHD).
 24. A method of stimulating or expanding T regulatory cells in a subject with an autoimmune or inflammatory disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a protein selected from the group consisting of: (a) a sequence of amino acid residues 1 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) a sequence of amino acid residues 6 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 4; and (c) a sequence of amino acid residues 21 to 156 as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and a second polypeptide comprises a sequence of amino acid residues as shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO:
 4. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of muscular sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and graft versus host disease (GVHD).
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the inflammatory disease is asthma or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 